Tuesday, April 19, 2011

2009. Adult angelfish pair laid around 30 eggs on an Anubis leaf in a 50 litre community tank. Pair became aggressive to other tank makes, pinning them in a far corner of the tank. In an attempt to diffuse the situation, the parents, eggs and leaf were moved to a new 20 litre tank. Approximately 10 minutes later the adult angelfish fish ate all the eggs. Failure to provide adequate housing. Failure to manage breeding behaviour.

Sunday, April 3, 2011

~2005. Two gold gourami purchased at local aquarium store. Lived happily for around 9 months despite being slightly aggressive to other tankmates. Expired during January heatwave in Canberra, Australia. Final water temperature was around 32C. Failure to regulate water temperature.

~1999. Three pepper corydoras purchased at local aquarium store and introduced into existing community tank. Health of all three fish deteriorated over several weeks, before expiring. At death the whiskers around the mouth appeared shorter than they had been previously. Suspect harassment by tank mates, or improper substrate. Indeterminate failure.

~1996. Two convict cichlids purchased at local aquarium store. When released in tank they swam to the bottom and sat there with gills beating heavily. Both fish expired two hours later. Upon calling the aquarium store for advice, they suggested bringing in dead fish along with a water sample to be tested. Aquarium store advised that the water hardness was much too low. Failure to research water chemistry requirements for new species.

~1985. Single silver perch caught on line during fishing trip with father at Nepean river, Australia. Fish was hooked through the mouth, and placed in a lunchbox for the trip home. After arriving home approx 1 hour later, fish was still flapping around in the lunchbox. Kitchen sink was filled with tapwater and fish released into it. Fish promptly recovered and began swimming around. Mother suggested getting an old tank from under the house and placing it in my room. Fish survived approx 3 months, until it jumped out of the open tank one day while we were out, and asphyxiated. Failure to extrapolate known behaviour of species. Failure to provide adequate housing.